How to Integrate RTI and Logitech Media Server

Transcription

1 How to Integrate RTI and Logitech Media Server Notes: The aim of this document is to go above and beyond what technical support can provide as far as aiding in the integration of a Logitech Media Server. It s assumed that the Logitech Media Server software is up and running before attempting to integrate with RTI. Questions pertaining to features of the Logitech Media Server must be posed to Logitech directly. (example: I can t get Pandora to show up in the Logitech Media Server. Questions like this must be answered by Logitech technical support.) Apps that are added to the users mysqueezbox.com account will not be accessible from the Logitech Media Server until a player has added the Logitech Media Server as its content interface. o Music local to the Logitech Media Server will be available. If you want to have multiple Logitech Media Servers streaming audio then each Logitech Media Server will need to have its own player (Squeeze Touch, SqueezePlay, etc.), mysqueezebox.com account, and streaming audio account.

2 Two-way Driver Configuration: TCP Address: The TCP Address is the IP Address of the computer that is running the Logitech Media Server software. The squeezebox HTML Port and CLI Port will default to 9000 and 9090 respectively and can be changed if necessary. Be sure that the ports listed here are what the Logitech Media Server configuration reflects. Player Name: The Player Name needs to be entered exactly the way it s listed on the Logitech Media Server. For instance the image to the right has the Player Name entered as Test Player. IMPORTANT NOTE: This field is case sensitive and requires spaces to be entered. Squeeze Network Accounts This section becomes important when more than one account needs to be accessible from one Logitech Media Server. This is due to the fact that there is no option within the Logitech Media Server to change the Pandora account, or change the Slacker account. However there is an option to change the myqueezebox.com account where features like Pandora and Slacker pull from. So in the instance where multiple accounts need to be accessed from one server it is necessary to have each Pandora account linked to a separate mysqueezebox.com account. Then you have the option to switch between the mysqueezebox.com accounts programmed in RTI. An example would be a family where each person would like to play their own Pandora account within the system. Each person would then need to have their own mysqueezebox.com account with their Pandora information applied. Note: This is not a function that allows multiple Pandora accounts to be played at one time, just the ability the change between them. Having multiple custom radio/streaming radio accounts running at one time would require multiple Logitech Media Servers. Main Menu The section allows the programmer to pick and choose which options are available to the end user at the top level of the browsing list.

3 RTI Two-way Programming Overview: For this portion of the document the XSqueezeMe sample file that comes with the driver when downloaded will be used. It s recommended that the sample file be open when reviewing this section of the document for a better understanding of what to do. On Page 5 (Browse) of the K4 there is a two-way list capable of both control and feedback with an applicable two-way driver like the Logitech Squeezebox. The image below shows a list that has been right clicked to expose the driver command and variable assigned to the list. Notice that the Variables tab shows several options but that only the Item List Object is being used. In order for the list to provide feedback the Browsing List variable is the only one that need be applied. On the Driver command tab the control option of Select from Browse List has been assigned. While the variable provides feedback on the state of the device being controlled the driver command instructs the device on its next task. Thus both driver command and variable need to be applied otherwise proper control will not be possible.

4 Above the list are a couple of other control options. The top heading allows the end user to ascertain what level the list resides at a particular time. As the list dives deeper the heading continues to update and reflect the correct state of the list. Notice that there are two components to the list heading. There is the transparent button that has the text variable assigned providing the current list state. There is also the Arrow button that has the driver command assigned which instructs the list to move back up a level.

5 Also on Page 5 (Browse) is a section that reflects what is currently playing on the Logitech Media Server. Right click on each of the text buttons and select Edit Text to show what text variable is applied. Determining exactly which variable is applied can be determined by selecting the var in the text window. To the far left is the cover art object, for this option the variable is tied to the Dynamic Image on the variables tab within the objects properties. Applying the correct variables will allow the RTI device to show the song title, artist, and album. In addition RTI devices that are Ethernet capable will also show the cover art. Once a programmer has figured out which variables go where, the programmer can then recreate the same layouts/scenarios in personalized projects.

6 Squeezebox GUI: Once the RTI device has been programmed the utilization of the programming should be very simple and easy to use. The main menu of the list will show the different audio options available to the user. Notice on the image to the right that selecting an option from the list drills the list deeper toward more specific information. As the list dives deeper the heading at the top will continue to update allowing the user to know at what level the list currently resides. The user will keep drilling down until a music selection can be made. Selecting a song from the list will update the now playing information located in the lower right corner of the K4 as shown to the right.

7 Logitech Media Server Setup: The Logitech Media Server interface will provide access to music located on the computer running the Logitech Media Server software. It s important to note that while the interface looks like a player and allows the user to play music located on the computer, it isn t a distinct player. In the event streaming music is necessary then a player will need to be setup within the system and linked to the Logitech Media Server. Agenda: 1. Create Pandora Account 2. Create mysqueezebox.com account Within the mysqueezebox.com account download the Pandora app. Within the Pandora app apply the account information for whatever Pandora account is used. 3. Link the mysqueezebox.com account to the Logitech Media Server under the settings webpage. It s important to note that this is the Logitech Media Server settings not the Vortex Box settings (i.e. network configuration or system configuration). VortexBox Configuration Webpage: Logitech Media Server Settings: 4. Link the Squeeze Player to the Server (This refers to a virtual Squeezebox device) 5. Verify Squeeze Server 6. Verify mysqueezebox.com account

8 1. Create Pandora account. a. Go to and click register as shown below b. Complete the required fields to create the Pandora account and click the Register button as shown below

9 c. Once the screen below has been reached, the account has been created. Click the Continue button d. Clicking the Continue button presents the screen to search and select which music is to be applied to the account. The music selected here will be available through the Logitech Media Server once setup is completed.

10 2. Create MySqueezebox.com account a. Go to and select Create an account from the upper right corner of the screen as shown below. b. Fill in the required fields in the Sign up now section and click the Create my account button as shown below. c. Once the registration process has completed a congratulations screen will display. Click the Continue button as shown below to enter the new mysqueezebox.com account.

11 d. In the mysqueezebox.com account select the App Gallery option from the top of the screen as shown below e. Once in the App Gallery click the drop down to select the genre of app desired. For the sake of this exercise Pandora will be used. Select the Custom Radio option from the list and then Pandora from the subsequent list. Once on the desired option click the Install App button in the upper right corner of the screen. f. Next select the My Apps section of the mysqueezebox.com account. On the Account Settings tab enter the account information for the Pandora account and click Log in.

12 g. Once the login information has been entered and accepted the account will reflect the user account information and sort settings as shown below. Accounts may be removed by clicking the icon of a red dot with a white line through it. However an account may only be removed if there is another account present. 3. Link the mysqueezebox.com account This is accomplished by accessing the settings of the Logitech Media Server. Once in the Logitech Media Server interface, click the Settings option in the lower right corner of the screen. NOTE: If using the Vortex Box the Logitech Media Server settings ( are different than the Vortex Box settings (

13 a. In the settings of the Logitech Media Server select the mysqueezebox.com tab and enter the login information used to access the mysqueezebox.com account. Then click the Apply button. b. If the account information has been accepted it will be noted in the upper left corner of the screen as shown below. Once the account information has been accepted click the Close button in the lower right corner. c. After returning to the Logitech Media Server interface the Pandora option will still not be present. This is because there needs to be a player linked to the Logitech Media Server with the appropriate mysqueezebox.com account.

14 4. Link Player to Server. Getting a player linked to the Logitech Media Server requires first selecting what player to use. It can be an actual device such as the Squeezebox Touch and Squeezebox Radio or a virtual device such as the Squeeze Play. For the sake of this exercise a Squeeze Play will be setup and linked to the mysqueezebox.com account. a. The GUI for most squeezebox devices should appear very similar to the interface below. b. Once on the main home page of the Squeeze device select the Settings option.

15 c. Within the Settings of the Squeeze device select the Choose Player option. d. This will present the Choose Player screen of the Squeeze. Notice that the player being selected below is the same name as the Logitech Media Server interface discussed earlier in this document Test Player.

16 e. Now that the Test Player has been selected, the Squeeze Play will allow for navigation and control of different music options available on the Logitech Media Server. f. In addition to making the data from the Logitech Media Server available on the Squeeze Play player the options on the Squeeze Play will be available on the Logitech Media Server, for instance Pandora. To install custom apps on the Squeeze Play player click the My Apps option from the main Squeeze Play screen

17 g. Next choose the App that is desired to be used on the Squeeze Play player. Note: Why is there only one App listed below? Because Pandora was the only App installed in the mysqueezebox.com account that was applied to the Logitech Media Server earlier. h. After making a selection of what App to use (in this case Pandora) a screen will open displaying what account is to be utilized. The account listed should be the same Pandora account created earlier and applied the mysqueezebox.com account. Once the information has been verified click the Your Stations option

18 i. A list of the stations loaded in the Pandora account will now be available to play on the Squeeze Play Verify Squeeze Server The Pandora information will now be present on the Logitech Media Server interface. However, even though the song information is present and the audio is playing, the Pandora app is still not available in the My App s section of the Logitech Media Server. a. To resolve this click the Red X in the upper right corner of the Logitech Media Server interface to close out the application completely.

19 b. Once the application has been closed out reopen it and the Pandora app should be available in the list. 6. Verify mysqueezebox.com account Also make note of the changes to the mysqueezebox.com account. The Test Player should now be listed as the loaded player on that account.

20 RTI Integration (bring it all together): Add and Configure Squeezebox Two-way Driver: 1. The first step within RTI is to create the processor and load the Logitech Squeezebox Driver. Within the driver setup there are only two fields that need to be configured, the TCP Address & Player Name. TCP Address is the IP address of the computer running the Logitech Media Server. The Player Name can be seen in the dropdown in the upper right corner of the Logitech Media Server interface page. IMPORTANT NOTE: When entering the Player name in the driver field, make sure it is entered exactly as it s named Logitech Media Server interface - This includes spaces and letter case (upper/lower).

21 Programming the GUI 2. Open the sample file that comes with the two-way driver. By editing the text of a button (right click>edit text) or the properties of a button (right click>edit properties), the correct driver commands and variables can be determined. Elements from the sample file can be copy and pasted into your project files also Note: some elements such as album art are not available on all devices. ie. T2C Examples of driver commands and variables for different buttons

22 3. GUI Navigation The image to the left shows the control and feedback of a Logitech Media Server.. This particular image depicts a user searching and selecting AC/DC Shoot to thrill. This image illustrates a user searching and selecting an option from a Pandora account.